It is the Second Sunday of Advent and today we shall remember when “the angel Gabriel was sent from God to a city in Galilee called Nazareth to a virgin [whose] name was Mary” (Luke 1:26-27). The angel told her good news!
His Name is Jesus
Have you ever wondered why the angel told Mary “you shall name Him Jesus” (Luke 1:31)? Why not let the parents name the child? An angel—most likely Gabriel—also told Joseph the same thing: “you shall call His name Jesus” (Matt 1:21). The name makes more sense when we read what the angel told Joseph next, “for He will save His people from their sins” (Matt 1:21). Jesus’ name means “The Lord Saves”. Jesus is the English version of the Latin Jesu, which is from the Greek Iesous, which is from the Hebrew Yehoshua later shortened to Yeshua. He was officially given the name Yeshua (Jesus) eight days after His birth, at His circumcision (Luke 2:21). Jesus was given His name by the angel from God because it is through Him that the Lord saves sinners (1 Tim 1:15).
The Descendant of David
Jesus is our Savior and He is the descendant of King David (1 Sam 17:13). Matthew records Jesus’ genealogy through Joseph and Luke records Jesus’ genealogy through His mother, Mary. Both genealogies—while obviously different—show that Jesus is a descendant of David. Why is this important? Because the Lord promised David “your house and your Kingdom shall endure before Me forever; your throne shall be established forever” (2 Sam 7:16). The Lord raised up David’s son Solomon to fulfill the promise of building the Temple of the Lord (1 Kings 8:20) and the Lord fully fulfilled the promise of an eternal Kingdom through His Son Jesus, “the King of kings and Lord of lords” (Rev 19:16). Being the Son of David reminds us that Jesus is fully human and is able to “sympathize with our weakness” (Heb 4:15) who is able to die on our behalf to reconcile us back to God.
The Son of the Most High
Jesus is our Savior, He is the descendant of King David and is the Son of the Most High. When Mary was told that she would give birth, she was understandably confused and asked, “How can this be, since I am a virgin?” (Luke 1:34). The angel replied, “The Holy Spirit will come upon you, and the power of the Most High will overshadow you; and for that reason, the Holy Child will be called the Son of God” (Luke 1:35). Jesus is not just any descendant of David, but He is the Son of God. It is vital that we never overlook Jesus’ virgin birth. Joseph was thought to be Jesus’ father, but he played no part in the process. Jesus’ birth was miraculous because God Himself created the life in Mary’s virgin womb. Mary remained a virgin until after Jesus was born (Matt 1:25). Being the Son of the Most High reminds us that Jesus is fully God who can live a perfectly sinless life and is perfectly righteous. Jesus’ virgin birth also teaches us that He did not inherit the sinful nature of Adam that plagues the rest of humanity.
First Baptist Scott City, MO 
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